'X Factor,' 'Criminal Minds' scare up wins on Halloween

Though TV viewership was predictably lower on Wednesday, The X Factor still scared up a win with its live show from 8 to 10 p.m. The installment, though down 9 percent versus the previous week, earned a 2.7 rating/8 share among adults 18-49 and averaged 7.3 million viewers, according to preliminary results. Fox blames the decrease on how it originally planned to air a repeat last night so some systems didn’t adjust their program guides in time. There was also the whole trick or treating thing.

Whatevs: A win is a win.

CBS was tops in viewers (10.8 million), and a veryclose second in 2.5/8 in the key demo (these numbers will likely change later in the day). Survivor: Philippines earned a 2.4/8 and 9.8 million, while Criminal Minds posted a 2.9/8 and a stunning 11.9 million eyeballs. That, my friends, was the most-watched show of the night. (Wish I could say its content was appropriate for Halloween but that drama lures the big numbers every freaking week). CSI posted a 2.3/7 and 10.8 million.

ABC was third in the demo with a 2.4/7, with its special airing of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown earning a 2.7/9 (um, isn’t that what X Factor did?) and 7.9 million viewers. The Neighbors posted a very unneighborly 1.8/6 and 5.7 million (why did ABC order a full season of this show again?) but an original of ModernFamily (4.1/12, 10.4 million) saved the day. Suburgatory couldn’t hold onto that swell lead-in – it only earned a 2.4/7 and 6.3 million, down 11% from last week for a season low – and Nashville, even with the hot Charles Estin as dreamy Deacon – only posted a 5.7 million and a 1.8/5, its lowest rating to date. (Cue: Rascal Flatts’ “What Hurts the Most.”)

NBC was fourth with a special airing of 30 Rock (1.2/4,3.5 million) flat with last week’s airing of the canceled Animal Practice. The excreable Guys With Kids earned a 1.4/4 and 3.8 million, Law & Order: SVU posted a 1.7/5 and 6.2 million, and Chicago Fire nabbed a 1.5/4 and 5.4 million.

Arrow fought the good fight for CW, doing its best demo numbers among men 18-49 (1.1/4), men 25-54 (1.4/4) and adults 50 plus (did I literally just write that?). In the mature demo, it posted a 1.8/3. Supernatural followed but couldn’t crack a 1 rating in all demos. Hey, the kids were busy.